2018 HSFB Preview: Madison-Area Coaching Changes

Several schools will be under a new direction for the 2018 high school football season in the Madison area. Here's a list of head coaching moves involving area teams.

Big Eight

After last year saw two new head coaches in the conference, there's only one change for the upcoming season... and it's a coach who has been at the helm of a Big 8 program in the past. Michael Harris, who coached at Madison La Follette from 2008-2013, is the new head coach for Madison Memorial. He takes over for Adam Smith. Harris has a career record of 20-35. He'll be leading a program with some success at the youth levels and some stars in the 2019 and 2020 classes already. The Spartans made the playoffs last year with a 4-6 overall record including the postseason, and are 15-15 overall the past three seasons.

Badger North

Ryan Kleppe left the Mount Horeb/Barneveld program for another job, so former Delavan-Darien/Willams Bay coach Bret St. Arnauld will be the new lead man. St. Arnauld actually coached Delavan-Darien to a playoff win over Mount Horeb/Barneveld in 2016, his only playoff win as a head coach. His Comets went 17-22 in four seasons... Scott Schutt is the interim coach at Sauk Prairie, after the school decided to take a more patient approach towards hiring their next football coach. Schutt plans on stepping down after the season after taking over just days before the 2017 began, when the Eagles' previous coach left the position.

Badger South

Former Sun Prairie assistant Brady Grayvold will take over at Fort Atkinson, as former coach Steve Mahoney is the athletic director. In addition to coaching at Sun Prairie, Grayvold was a Gagliardi Award finalist at UW-Whitewater. This is his first head coaching job... WFCA Hall of Fame coach Al Minnaert retired at Edgewood, so Jesse Norris, an Ohio native who previously coached in Florida, will be the head coach this season for the Crusaders. Norris went 2-8 in his only season as a head coach.

Capitol

Only one change between the North and South conferences. Waterloo AD Aaron Erickson, their former wrestling coach, will take over as head football coach for Paul Scheel. Scheel had been coaching in the district since 2000. Erickson was quietly approved this spring as the new head coach.

Rock Valley

In another AD-related move, Jeff Spiwak left the Clinton football program in the hands of his former assistant, Jake Standiford, who was the offensive coordinator under Spiwak. Clinton's had a big run of success, going 22-3 the past two years... There is already a move on the books for next year, as interim coach Jim Pease will step down at Whitewater, where he is already the athletic director and baseball coach.

Greater Madison Area

After 36 years in the district and 13 years at the helm of the Darlington Redbirds, Scott Zywicki stepped down and former Markesan coach Travis Winkers will take over... with Bret St. Arnauld leaving Delavan-Darien for Mount Horeb/Barneveld, Hank Johnson becomes the new head coach of the Comets. Johnson has coached several sports in the district... Wisconsin Dells hired Scott Flood as their new lead man, replacing Eric Rosholt, who resigned after the 2017 season. Flood is 8-11 as a head coach, his two seasons coming at Milwaukee Bradley Tech... North Crawford will be led by new coach Tyler Dornink, replacing Kyle Oldenburg, while Wonewoc/Weston's new coach is John Benish, replacing Tom Hoile.

Full Statewide List at WisSports.net: Go Here